Improvement in boots and shoes



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABRAM LAWYER, or ALBANY, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 147,776, dated February 24,1874; application filed October 25, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABRAM LAWYER, of the city and county of Albany, State of New York, have invented certain Improvements of cutting with each of the back quarters (on the back seam-edge of the same, and at a point commencing above the top of the heel) an overlapping piece, in such a manner that when the said back quarters are seamed up, the said pieces will be capable of being so arranged that one will be made to lap over the other, and in such positions will be stitched firmly together at each edge of the laps; the object of this part of my invention being to strengthen the boot or shoe in the jointure of the back quarters, between the points where the stitchings are most strained and tend to be broken out or away. Another part of my invention consists in the combination of a back stay with the back quarters, provided with and part joined by the stitched overlapping pieces above referred to, in such a manner that the said back stay will act as a guard or protecting piece, to preserve the said overlapping pieces from being cut or worn by the skirts of the dresses of the wearer; the object of this part of my invention being to insure the preservation of the overlapping pieces and their stitchings from injury, and also to increase the strength and permanency of the jointure of the back quarters of the stitching.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents the usual back quarters of a shoe or gaiter embodying one'of the improvements in this invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view, illustrating the jointure of the quarters at line No. lin Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is the same taken at line No. 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is the same taken at line No. 8 in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a view from the rear, with one part of the invention applied. Fig. 6 is a view from the rear, illustrating all the parts of the invention. Figs. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views taken at line No. l in Fig. 6, when the shoe is completed.

The same letters of reference indicate like or similar parts.

In the drawings, A and A represent the back quarters of a shoe or .gaiter, which are cut in theusual manner at their back edges 1) 11, except between the points as and z, in which is cut with the quarter A a lappiece, a, and with the quarter A a flap, a, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 5, and 8. The portions of the edge I; b are united by stitching, in the usual man ner, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, while the lappieces a a are placed over each other, as shown in Figs. 3, 4., and 8, in full lines, and by dotted lines in Fig. 6, and stitched at their respective edges, (and, preferably, in the center of the lap,) as shown.

The said lap-pieces may be made of any sufficient length, and with a form of configuration of edge-line as fancy or utility might sug gest; yet in all cases they are to be so located that they will receive the excessive strain that usually is brought on that portion of the backseam jointure of the shoe by the working of the foot when walking. The said lap-pieces, being made continuous with the quarters and overlapping each other, and secured by stitching, as shown and described, will impart en durance and strength to that part of the shoe, boot, or gaiter which heretofore usually gave away by the reason of the strain on the stitchings with which the back seam was made, which stitehings were substantially the same as in Figs. 2 and 4.

B is the back stay, made and stitched over the back seam b and lapping-pieces a a, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8. v

The said back stay may be made with any form of edge lines desired, and be secured to the shoe or gaiter by one or more rows of stitchin gs on each edge, as may be desired. Placed on the outside oft-he shoe, over the back scam and the lap-pieces, the back stay will not only protect the back of the shoe from being cut or worn by the skirts of the wearer, but will also strengthen the jointure of the quarters.

If desired, the said back stay may be placed inside, as shown by dotted lines in Figs. 7 and 8, when strength will be imparted to the shoe, and the edges of the leather at the seams will be preserved from contact with the foot of the wearer.

The counter at the heel is permitted to extend up to about near midway between the points as and z of the laps, as shown by dotted lines 0 in Fig. 5.

By the improvements in this invention, the shoe, gaiter, or boot is made more strong at the jointures of the quarters than has been heretofore made, without increasing its expense.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In boots, shoes, and gaiters, the back quarters A A, with the lap-pieces a a at the reentrant curve, immediately above the swell of the heel, continuous with the said quarters, overlapping each other and secured by stitchings, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ABRAM LAWYER. Witnesses GI-ms. J. SELKIRK, GEO. A. THoMPsoN. 

